UNI. BASEBALL STADIUM LIQUOR LICENSES H.B. 4711:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4711 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Matt Hall
House Committee: Regulatory Reform
Senate Committee: Regulatory Reform
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to allow the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to issue a license to a private entity for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises of baseball stadiums on the premises of land owned by Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University under certain circumstances.
Section 513 of the Code allows the MLCC to issue to the governing board of a college or university a license to sell alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises of a conference center operated by the governing board. Section 513 also allows the MLCC to issue licenses to private entities for the sale of alcoholic liquor for on-premises consumption at facilities that meet certain conditions on the land of specified universities, including Central Michigan University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, and Northern Michigan University.
The bill would amend the Code to allow the MLCC, subject to Section 531, to issue a license to a private entity for the sale of alcoholic liquor for consumption on the premises of a baseball stadium located on land owned by Eastern Michigan University if the stadium and adjacent outdoor service area were lease or subleased at fair market value during the summer period between the end of the university's spring term and the beginning of its fall term. The MLCC also could issue a license to a private entity for consumption on the premises of a baseball stadium located on land owned by Oakland University if stadium and adjacent outdoor service area fulfilled the same conditions.
BACKGROUND
The Northwoods League (NWL) is a summer collegiate baseball league with 22 teams, including teams in Traverse City, Battle Creek, and Kalamazoo. The NWL has expressed interest in expanding into eastern Michigan and using preexistent baseball stadiums for its activities—namely those at Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University. According to testimony before the House Committee on Regulatory Reform, alcohol sales are part of the business model for teams in the NWL; however, on-premises sales are not currently allowed at the Eastern Michigan University or Oakland University stadiums.
Legislative Analyst: Christian Schmidt